SPIRITUAL GROWTH Q23:115

Abdul-Alim Badejo* was on television reading the Qur’an. Big deal, you might say but this was a 10 year old boy reading the Qur’an in Braille (I didn’t even know that existed) and with proper tajwid!
My husband’s first remark was, ‘And some of us with sight cannot even read.’ How true! Those deprived of their sight seem to visualise the Aakhirah better than those of us with it.

It’s not only bad that some of us cannot read the Qur’an, it’s worse because even our children can’t. Of course they can recite the English alphabets and the numbers backwards including the times table and the National anthem plus a myriad of songs at a very young age but they cannot even say ‘Bismillah.’ So what excuse will suffice?

image credit: http://www.english.alarabiya.net

Indeed, we are truly blessed now. Those of us reading this do not need to send our barefooted children to faraway schools on foot after fetching water from the well 5km away. Schools are everywhere we look; information is at our fingertips; a plethora of learning resources are available; degrees can be earned online.

We will not succeed in this world or in the Hereafter if we do not seek to develop ourselves and our children in every way. Some of us have never had the opportunity of learning the Qur’an while some us dropped it like a hot potato in our youth and have not returned to it since then.

Besides our financial growth, we need to develop in other fields especially spiritually. Just as we will be unhappy if not promoted at work, likewise we should be unhappy at our stunted growth in the deen. Being educated in the deen will help us discern bid’ah from sunnah, Islam from culture and help us to be better Muslims.

No excuses! Create time out of no time! It’s never too late. Nothing is more important than the Aakhirah.

*Not his real name

WEEKDAY CHALLENGE: OUTDOORS Q16.3-18

When was the last time you prayed outdoors, apart from Eid prayers? When did you ever take your prayer rug outside and lay it on the grass, beach sand or snow? Have you or your children ever climbed a tree or rock to call the adhan? Or performed ablution in a cool clear stream?

There is such an intensity that comes with praying outdoors, particularly for us women. It just feels so delicious and awe-inspiring and special. The wonder of Allah’s creation surrounds us and is filled with such beauty and colour. Fruits, birds, animals, trees, mountains, the sun, the clouds, the moon, stars…the quiet serenity of nature…

Challenge yourself and pray outdoors today. You will be glad you did!
PS. I would love for you to send me your pictures and share your experiences. Do e-mail me @ anchorwithkeidi@gmail.com and I will share your pictures with us all.

JUDGING PEOPLE Q49.11

As kids, my sister and I loved people-watching. We would go for a programme, sit behind and watch. As we assessed, we attached labels. The sayings go, ‘Dress as you want to be addressed’ and ‘You never get a second chance to make a first impression,’ but are they 100% true?

Many of us witness this when we go into boutiques or schools or even government parastatals. The front-desk officer critically appraises us as we step through the doors, trying to gauge the size of our wallets and how they should address us. We have also learnt to dress flamboyantly, wield expensive phones and bags and talk loud to obtain the desired respect from such superficial people.

People are often multi-layered and we should not allow narrow views shaped by judging from afar dictate how we treat people. These inaccurate distorted views are often shaped from stereotypy or from gossips and rumours surrounding an individual. As Muslims, we should not join the bandwagon of insulting people or giving them names without verifying the information we hear. I have been guilty of it, and am sure you have too. We should be mindful as we judge others because as a Nigerian adage goes, ‘While we stare at the back of someone’s head, it’s another who stares at ours.’

Besides, have you considered that that ‘show-off’ Muslimah without hijab you keep ragging on could have just concluded online purchases of hijabs? That ‘flirtatious’ guy on campus could be weeping every night in tahajjud (voluntary night prayers) at his sins; the ‘hunk’ you were crushing on in class could be ill-mannered; the ‘stammerer’ in your class may have memorised more of the Quran than you; your ‘unserious’ friend may spend every weekend volunteering at an orphanage; and the guy in your final year class who puts on airs may be depressed and lonely.

Looks can be deceiving and the truth is we will never know until we reach beneath the surface to see what lies underneath.

We should show mercy as we judge others. Let us give people the benefit of doubt and allow them right the wrong impression we have of them.

And may Allah be merciful to us in return.